Compressor location and noise control

[brookscooper]

So, I am designing the new garage shop to replace the existing one which is far too small (and I'm sure the new one, no matter how big will also be, but that's just life).

This garage will have a basement under it. I can, thus, locate the compressor in the basement.

I wish to do this first to free up floor space in the shop and second for noise control. I like my neighbors so right now I don't do compressed air requiring tasks in the wee morning or late evening.

I am fully aware of the need for a moisture trap to prevent condensed water from draining downhill into the compressor. Please assume my plumbing will be done correctly (what size of white pvc is best? [JUST KIDDING]).

My question is this:

my idea is to build a small room - a closet -for the compressor and to make its walls out of quiet rock or some such. BUT anything which will isolate the sound will also isolate the heat and require a source of incoming air for the compressor to compress.

Any ideas on how to figure the size of a basement room with 2 concrete walls (it'll be in a corner) which act as a heat sink? For inbound fresh air I'm planning to run an ABS waste vent pipe up through the ceiling just like a soil drain vent. I will, however, put a few bends in it to avoid having it act as a resonator for the sound.

I'm worried that I'll need to install a few fans triggered by a thermocouple to keep the compressor cool. If it's closet was big enough that wouldn't be needed but - how big I wonder?

 

[Aberdale]

Unless you are using air continuously, or the compressor is kicking on every 5 minutes for several hours, heat will probably not be a huge issue. I have my compressor tucked under a stairway, with the walls around it stuffed with fiberglass insulation. One side is open, and the riser under the bottom tread is open, which allows some airflow I would imagine. I haven't had any issues, and there are days that the compressor might run all afternoon if I'm running the bead blast cabinet.

If possible, I would recommend leaving at least 2-3 feet in front, and on each side of the compressor to give it a little breathing room. It will also make it easier if you ever need to work on it. Run it that way and check the temperature after you run it a while. If you think it's running too hot, add vents in the walls (one high,one low) to allow some convection cooling.

Dale

 

[ScaldedDog]

The room I built is roughly 7'x11', but it also houses my boiler, radiant heat setup, three bikes, etc. Never a problem getting hot.

What I did for sound insulation:

*Built it with 2x6 lumber
*Insulated all the walls as if they were outside walls
*Put both OSB and drywall on both sides of the walls
*Created a vent in the wall for makeup air, but aligned two pieces of cow mat inside as baffles.
*Vented the ceiling vent (for heat exhaustion) into the loft, and baffled it, as well.
*Ran a piece of cow mat along the bottom of the French doors so sound can't escape from beneath.

The result is that the compressor cannot be heard outside, at all. In the garage, it's about the same sound level as an idling car.